There's a new link on the sidebar, under America's Historical Documents. It links to a page that gives an overview of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, including a dictionary of terms. It's very informative. You can go directly to the link here:
http://www.resistnet.com/group/federalformsdocumentscontacts/forum/topics/the-constitution-explained
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Men Not Working
In Lake Worth, Florida, out-of-work laborers are hanging out in front of the Home Depot, waiting and hoping for work.
This seems at first glance to be admirable. These are able-bodied men with skills in brick laying, carpentry, landscaping, painting etc. doing whatever it takes to support their families. However, a further look brings pause.
The Home Depot blames the unemployed men for causing accidents and driving away customers. The competition is fierce, as the job seekers rush vehicles, shouting at the drivers. The local sheriff's office receives calls from customers who are frightened or annoyed after being surrounded by job seekers. General contractors and builders often send their wives in trucks to pick up supplies at the store, and the women are startled or frightened when the men surround the truck and try to open the doors.
The job seekers are allowed to stand on the sidewalk or along the shoulder in front of the store, which is considered public property. But sheriff's officials say the trouble begins when they block the entrance or run into the parking lot, defying trespass laws. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that most of these men are here illegally. Why would we expect them to obey our laws?
One of the men, an undocumented Guatemalan national who had a regular job in construction until being laid off late last year, said he and the others only want to work and have no other way to find steady pay. Where was he employed and by whom?
The men say they should be allowed to find a way to earn money. No, they should not be allowed to look for illegal work, nor should they or anyone else be allowed to trespass and harass shoppers. These men should spend more time and energy going through the process to become documented and contribute to our society, instead of taking all that America has to give while giving nothing back.
This seems at first glance to be admirable. These are able-bodied men with skills in brick laying, carpentry, landscaping, painting etc. doing whatever it takes to support their families. However, a further look brings pause.
The Home Depot blames the unemployed men for causing accidents and driving away customers. The competition is fierce, as the job seekers rush vehicles, shouting at the drivers. The local sheriff's office receives calls from customers who are frightened or annoyed after being surrounded by job seekers. General contractors and builders often send their wives in trucks to pick up supplies at the store, and the women are startled or frightened when the men surround the truck and try to open the doors.
The job seekers are allowed to stand on the sidewalk or along the shoulder in front of the store, which is considered public property. But sheriff's officials say the trouble begins when they block the entrance or run into the parking lot, defying trespass laws. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that most of these men are here illegally. Why would we expect them to obey our laws?
One of the men, an undocumented Guatemalan national who had a regular job in construction until being laid off late last year, said he and the others only want to work and have no other way to find steady pay. Where was he employed and by whom?
The men say they should be allowed to find a way to earn money. No, they should not be allowed to look for illegal work, nor should they or anyone else be allowed to trespass and harass shoppers. These men should spend more time and energy going through the process to become documented and contribute to our society, instead of taking all that America has to give while giving nothing back.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Déjà Vu All Over Again
Today the Senate is voting on another massive spending bill which contains more than 2,900 pages and $410 billion in spending. More than $7.7 billion is in pork-filled earmarks such as $1.8 million for pig odor and manure management, $200,000 for a "tattoo-removal violence-outreach program" in Los Angeles and $473,000 for the National Council of La Raza.
The Omnibus Spending bill doesn’t require competitive bids, which will result in more favors for lobbyists and friends of members of Congress. President Obama says that it’s too late to make changes to the bill.
Call your Senators and Congressmen.
The Omnibus Spending bill doesn’t require competitive bids, which will result in more favors for lobbyists and friends of members of Congress. President Obama says that it’s too late to make changes to the bill.
Call your Senators and Congressmen.
Tax Avoidance
Never mind that our “do as I say, not as I do” President tells us to lower our thermostats while he keeps the White House at topical temperatures because, as his senior adviser, David Axelrod, explained, “He’s from Hawaii, O.K.? He likes it warm.”
Never mind that many of us will be planting “Tax Gardens” to cut grocery expenses while he feasts on Japanese Waygu steak at $100 per steak, accompanied , I presume, with a salad of arugula.
Never mind that we will forego movies and restaurants while he hosts weekly champagne-sipping get-togethers with top-grade musical entertainment in the White House East Room.
He is the President, after all. He has to entertain, and our Presidents do bring their own entertaining style to the White House. The Clintons opted for Arkansas glitz, while George W. Bush preferred barbeques and boots. Barack Obama enjoys lavish elegance (read expensive) with all the style of the extremely wealthy, the people Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid want to barbeque.
But never mind all of that.
We simply do what we deem necessary to keep afloat during the financial catastrophe that is being foisted on us as recovery. Meanwhile, we are punished for our hard work or good fortune. We can find a lovely irony in a simpler lifestyle that relieves us of some of our tax burden.
I find pleasure in avoiding sales tax, federal gasoline tax, state gasoline tax, local gasoline tax, “gas guzzler “ tax, property tax, school tax, luxury tax, alcohol tax, restaurant tax, entertainment tax, gun tax (oops, I probably should pay the gun tax), highway tax, city tax, county tax, utilities tax, insurance tax, air fare tax, hotel tax, rental car tax, sport and fishing equipment tax, import tax– and those are just the ones that I can think of, many of them hidden in the price or premium.
Taxes, how do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways.
I am actively looking for ways to decrease my tax burden. I know how to be frugal and I know that when I decrease my spending, I also decrease the taxes that I pay. I’m saving money while giving less support to President Obama’s socialist agenda. I can control my spending, alter how I work, plant a vegetable garden, shop at roadside stands (if I can find one), shop online to avoid sales tax, barter for goods, trade services, put my money in a credit union, drive less, refuse to park at a parking meter, turn off the lights, heat with wood, cancel collision coverage on my 10-year old Civic, pay cash, stay out of debt, avoid toll roads, stop eating out, buy necessities at resale shops or on sale, reevaluate what IS necessary, use coupons and aim low. I’m sure that if I remain vigilant and thoughtful, I can find other ways to avoid paying taxes while spending money wisely.
Perhaps you can rent a out an extra bedroom, start homeschooling, car pool, raise and sell vegetables, raise chickens, sheep or goats, retire from productive employment, sell the house, move to another country – oh, bad idea, I forgot about the “exit tax”.
Lately the media and some politicians have spoken of “tax avoidance and tax evasion” in the same breath, as if it is illegal or at least immoral to avoid paying taxes. When I consider the things that our taxes are supporting, I believe it’s morally wrong to pay a penny more than I am legally required to. Avoiding taxes is a moral choice, a political position, an activist decision, a silent revolt.
“Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everyone does it, rich and poor alike and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands.” – Judge Learned Hand
Never mind that many of us will be planting “Tax Gardens” to cut grocery expenses while he feasts on Japanese Waygu steak at $100 per steak, accompanied , I presume, with a salad of arugula.
Never mind that we will forego movies and restaurants while he hosts weekly champagne-sipping get-togethers with top-grade musical entertainment in the White House East Room.
He is the President, after all. He has to entertain, and our Presidents do bring their own entertaining style to the White House. The Clintons opted for Arkansas glitz, while George W. Bush preferred barbeques and boots. Barack Obama enjoys lavish elegance (read expensive) with all the style of the extremely wealthy, the people Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid want to barbeque.
But never mind all of that.
We simply do what we deem necessary to keep afloat during the financial catastrophe that is being foisted on us as recovery. Meanwhile, we are punished for our hard work or good fortune. We can find a lovely irony in a simpler lifestyle that relieves us of some of our tax burden.
I find pleasure in avoiding sales tax, federal gasoline tax, state gasoline tax, local gasoline tax, “gas guzzler “ tax, property tax, school tax, luxury tax, alcohol tax, restaurant tax, entertainment tax, gun tax (oops, I probably should pay the gun tax), highway tax, city tax, county tax, utilities tax, insurance tax, air fare tax, hotel tax, rental car tax, sport and fishing equipment tax, import tax– and those are just the ones that I can think of, many of them hidden in the price or premium.
Taxes, how do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways.
I am actively looking for ways to decrease my tax burden. I know how to be frugal and I know that when I decrease my spending, I also decrease the taxes that I pay. I’m saving money while giving less support to President Obama’s socialist agenda. I can control my spending, alter how I work, plant a vegetable garden, shop at roadside stands (if I can find one), shop online to avoid sales tax, barter for goods, trade services, put my money in a credit union, drive less, refuse to park at a parking meter, turn off the lights, heat with wood, cancel collision coverage on my 10-year old Civic, pay cash, stay out of debt, avoid toll roads, stop eating out, buy necessities at resale shops or on sale, reevaluate what IS necessary, use coupons and aim low. I’m sure that if I remain vigilant and thoughtful, I can find other ways to avoid paying taxes while spending money wisely.
Perhaps you can rent a out an extra bedroom, start homeschooling, car pool, raise and sell vegetables, raise chickens, sheep or goats, retire from productive employment, sell the house, move to another country – oh, bad idea, I forgot about the “exit tax”.
Lately the media and some politicians have spoken of “tax avoidance and tax evasion” in the same breath, as if it is illegal or at least immoral to avoid paying taxes. When I consider the things that our taxes are supporting, I believe it’s morally wrong to pay a penny more than I am legally required to. Avoiding taxes is a moral choice, a political position, an activist decision, a silent revolt.
“Anyone may arrange his affairs so that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which best pays the treasury. There is not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes. Over and over again the Courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everyone does it, rich and poor alike and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands.” – Judge Learned Hand
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Gupta Withdraws
CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, has withdrawn his name from consideration as Surgeon General of the United States.
The Office of the Surgeon General, under the direction of the Surgeon General, oversees the U.S. Public Health Service. The office is currently under the direction of Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson. The Surgeon General serves as America's chief health educator by providing Americans the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of illness and injury.
The Office of the Surgeon General, under the direction of the Surgeon General, oversees the U.S. Public Health Service. The office is currently under the direction of Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Galson. The Surgeon General serves as America's chief health educator by providing Americans the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of illness and injury.
Geithner Goes It Alone
Annette Nazareth, a former senior staffer and commissioner with the SEC, has withdrawn from consideration as Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's chief deputy. Although Nazareth has undergone more than a month of intense vetting, Geithner's choice of Nazareth was never announced officially. She has drawn criticism for her role at the SEC in creating what some consider to be lax oversight of the banking industry.
In the midst of the banking crisis, Geithner has been staffing his department slowly, resulting in uncertainty about the Treasury staff and unnerving financial markets. He has yet to name even one of his 17 top deputies. Treasury has to name about 100 appointees in all. Geithner has assembled a 50-person "shadow cabinet", but they lack any authority to make decisions or represent the departments in meetings.
At a Senate hearing last Thursday about American International Group Inc., which has received bailouts totaling more than $170 billion, Senator Chris Dodd said that he asked Treasury for someone to appear, but no one was available. Dodd said "I am not pleased that we don't have someone here from Treasury to explain what their role in this is."
Geithner's inability to assemble a team and his missteps in putting together a financial rescue program have raised concerns on Wall Street. "This doesn't help confidence," said David Wyss, chief economist at Standard & Poor's in New York. " Geithner is stuck there all my himself trying to do everything. They don't have anybody confirmed, and Treasury is a big shop to try to run with one person, especially right now."
In the midst of the banking crisis, Geithner has been staffing his department slowly, resulting in uncertainty about the Treasury staff and unnerving financial markets. He has yet to name even one of his 17 top deputies. Treasury has to name about 100 appointees in all. Geithner has assembled a 50-person "shadow cabinet", but they lack any authority to make decisions or represent the departments in meetings.
At a Senate hearing last Thursday about American International Group Inc., which has received bailouts totaling more than $170 billion, Senator Chris Dodd said that he asked Treasury for someone to appear, but no one was available. Dodd said "I am not pleased that we don't have someone here from Treasury to explain what their role in this is."
Geithner's inability to assemble a team and his missteps in putting together a financial rescue program have raised concerns on Wall Street. "This doesn't help confidence," said David Wyss, chief economist at Standard & Poor's in New York. " Geithner is stuck there all my himself trying to do everything. They don't have anybody confirmed, and Treasury is a big shop to try to run with one person, especially right now."
NYC Rally
Uh-oh, taxpayers aren't alone in voicing frustration.
According to an article on the WCBSTV website, tens of thousands of New Yorkers marched on City Hall on March 5, in protest of proposed funding cuts. Chants of "No more cuts! No more cuts!" were heard throughout lower Manhattan. The protesters, made up of labor unions, community groups and "everyday New Yorkers", are asking for "fair tax reform", in the form of STATE tax increases for New Yorkers making $250,000 or more - this would be on top of the tax increases already proposed by the Obama administration.
Let the wealthy pay - and pay, and pay!
According to an article on the WCBSTV website, tens of thousands of New Yorkers marched on City Hall on March 5, in protest of proposed funding cuts. Chants of "No more cuts! No more cuts!" were heard throughout lower Manhattan. The protesters, made up of labor unions, community groups and "everyday New Yorkers", are asking for "fair tax reform", in the form of STATE tax increases for New Yorkers making $250,000 or more - this would be on top of the tax increases already proposed by the Obama administration.
Let the wealthy pay - and pay, and pay!
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